In the Russian language, verbs can be broken down into two main types: perfective and imperfective.

It's important to know how these types work so you can say exactly what you mean.

In this lesson, we will focus on the verb "сказать," which means "to say." We will see how its different forms can change the meaning of sentences.

Perfective Aspect

The perfective aspect shows that an action is completed.

When you use the perfective form "сказать," you’re saying that the act of saying is done.

Example Sentences:

1. Он сказал правду.
   (He said the truth.)

   • This means he finished telling the truth.

2. Я скажу это завтра.
   (I will say this tomorrow.)

   • This shows that you plan to finish saying something in the future.

Imperfective Aspect

The imperfective aspect describes actions that are happening, happen often, or happen regularly.

The imperfective form of "сказать" is "говорить," which also means "to say" or "to speak."

This tells us that the action may not be finished or it happens a lot.

Example Sentences:

1. Он говорит правду.
   (He is saying the truth / He says the truth.)

   • This means he is either saying something right now or does this often.

2. Я говорил об этом вчера.
   (I was saying about this yesterday.)

   • This means the action was happening over a period in the past or that you talked about it more than once.

Key Differences

1. Completion:

   • Perfective (сказать): The action is complete.
   • Imperfective (говорить): The action is ongoing or happens repeatedly.

2. Usage in Context:

   • Use the perfective form for actions that are finished or will be finished.
   • Use the imperfective form for actions that happen regularly or don't have a clear ending.

Summary

When making sentences in Russian, it’s really important to know when to use the perfective or imperfective aspect.

Choosing between "сказать" and "говорить" can change whether you mean a completed statement or an ongoing discussion.

By understanding and practicing these aspects, you can improve your Russian skills and get better at expressing different ideas.